20 years go by,John(Ray Milland)is in love with Isobel(Susan Hayward)Beau(Gary Cooper)and Digby(Robert Preston)dont know what to do with their lives and Augustus(G P Huntley JR)is a pesty grouch with little feelings for the others.

Lady Brandon calls them all into the study to show them the Blue Water,but the lights go out.When the lights go on,the Blue Water vanishes.All suspect Augustus,but he or Isobel are not who took it.Lady Brandon trusts them to return it.

During the night,Beau leaves and goes off to join the French Foreign Legion.John and Digby follow where they all reunite in the Middle East where the Legion is trying to put down an Arab revolt.In charge is SGT Markoff(Brian Donlevy)a cruel,sadist,but an excellent soildier.Markoff finds out through a spy(J Carroll Naish)that one of the brothers has a valuble diamond.

All are sent to a fort in the desert.When the LT(Harvey Stephens)the officer in charge dies,,Markoff takes over much to everyones anger and a mutiny soon starts under Schwartz(Albert Dekker)the leader.The revolt ends when Arabs attack the fort once more,putting Markoff in charge.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

If one has read the book "Beau Geste" by P.C. Wren, or the first book in the series, as there was a whole series of books, this is certainly the most faithful adaptation. Certainly, more faithful than the 1966 version. Though, that one was alot of fun to watch. As a bit of trivia, Charlton Heston was offered the part of Dagineau in the 1966 version, but turned it down. Something which he never seems to have regreted after seeing the film.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

"I don't know much about mutinies but one thing I do know is ...you don't plan them at the top of your lungs!"

There's one other hilarious scene that's very easy to miss:

For some reason Markoff has gone down to the fort's tiny prison cell to talk to some soldiers he has on detention. They must be utterly miserable, crowded into a tiny room with a slop bucket and reduced rations; also the brutal heat in an enclosed space.

Anyway, Markoff wants some information or something but whatever the conversation is about he is obviously gloating and smirking at the poor wretches he has locked up. He finishes the little chat with a promise that the men's misery is not about to let up, in fact it's going to get worse if he can do anything about it.

"I PROMISE you!" he jeers, as usual; chuckling with psychotic glee.

Now this is the funny part: just before he closes the tiny window in the cell door, one of the inmates inside carefully aims, hawks, and launches a gob of spit--hurls it right through the barred window at Markoff face! Markoff can't hardly believe it. Crazy with rage, he wipes it off and lunges forward to get his hand on the man, but he can't reach.

In a moment, he gets control of himself and realizes he can't reach any further than the length of his arm. For once a soldier has insulted him with relative impugnity. But you can see he is devising some further torture for the men inside, which we can't even imagine.

I just think this scene is astounding. Some helpless prisoner whom Markoff already has at the end of his rope, hates this awful Sergeant so much that he practically signs his own death-warrant by spitting on him. It's crazy brave.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I﻿ just think this scene is astounding. Some helpless prisoner whom Markoff already has at the end of his rope, hates this awful Sergeant so much that he practically signs his own death-warrant by spitting on him. It's crazy brave.

What I find to be crazy brave is using Markoff as one's avatar. My hat is off to you, but please don't bop me over the head!